Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Gateway to Hell

Gateway to Hell is a doom band from Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. This year they have an EP called Clovers. Their sound is descended from 1970s Black Sabbath, with bits, pieces and echoes of other sounds that crept their way into the band’s identity. This is a new band to this publication. Learn more about them below.

OFFICIAL: GATEWAY TO HELL was forged in 2013 when drummer Dan Petruccelli and bassist Rudy Gomez started jamming in the basement of an otherwise reputable Baltimore cake shop. Taking cues from John Carpenter soundtracks, Type O Negative, and Ministry, they realized they were onto something fun and brought in Jerrod Bronson on vocals and Jo K on guitar to complete the initial lineup. The band released a self-recorded demo in October of 2014 and shows with the likes of The Skull and Crypt Sermon ensued.

By 2015, Gomez moved to Austin, Texas but remains an integral part of the band as the painter responsible for much of the band's artwork. Eric Smythe was brought in on bass and later Alex Briscoe joined as a second guitarist. Together, they played shows regionally opening for Valient Thorr, The Bronx, Mac Sabbath, and Mondo Generator. In the spring of 2016, they recorded the soon-to-be-unleashed Clovers EP featuring five songs of atmospheric and crushing metal that fuses their many metal and punk influences. Later that year, Jo K. fled the band to pursue new projects. The band remains a four-piece. GATEWAY TO HELL's catalog includes a self-titled demo, one single titled "Scorched Earth," and their upcoming 2017 debut EP Clovers. The band is currently writing new material for their next album.